Ghana News Agency

Saturday 31st October, 2015

Accra,
Oct. 31, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has appealed to
Ghanaians to purchase the red poppy normally sold in commemoration of Veterans
Day in support of ex-service personnel.
He
said the red poppy day which has been slated for November 11, needs to be
patronised by Ghanaians as it is a symbol of peaceful coexistence, as well as
celebrating those who lost their lives as a re

Accra,
Oct. 31, GNA - Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has appealed to
Ghanaians to purchase the red poppy normally sold in commemoration of Veterans
Day in support of ex-service personnel.

He
said the red poppy day which has been slated for November 11, needs to be
patronised by Ghanaians as it is a symbol of peaceful coexistence, as well as
celebrating those who lost their lives as a result of peacekeeping duties.

In
a speech read on his behalf at the Military Band Concert and the launch of 2015
Poppy Appeal in Accra, Mr Amissah-Arthur urged all to use the occasion to
reflect on the need to promote peace around the world.

He
said war promotes retrogression and it behooves everybody to wage a campaign
against it.

Colonel
Chris Nutakor (Retired), Executive Director, Veterans Administration Ghana
(VAG), explained that the poppy stands for all those who lost their lives in
the first and second world wars, including those who lost their lives in
conflicts.

"The
sale of the poppy is therefore meant to support our unfortunate relations who
in the course of duty get maimed or incapacitated and in some cases die and
left their families in desperation," he said.

He
said VAG is mandated by law to run the affairs of all ex-service men in the
country and currently taken care of three legion villages located in Accra,
Kumasi and Yendi.

He
said the money to be accrued from the sale of the poppy would be used in
support of the welfare of inmates at the villages, who many of them are
disable, destitute and old.

Col
Nutakor said the purchase and wearing of the poppy gives practical help and
companionship to ex-service personnel and serving soldiers who are victims in
pursuit of peace.